Marianna Crane

Just a Nurse

This is from Suzanne Gordon’s Blog. Ms Gordon is a journalist and stanch supporter and promoter of all things nursing.

Recently she asked nurses to respond with their version of “Just a Nurse.” I am delighted to see their feedback. May nurses continue to tell the public what they do and how important their job is.

I would like to post all the Just a Nurse submissions people have sent me. See below. What do you think? I think they are all great. Thank you so much, all of you.

Suzanne Gordon

I’m just a Pediatric Intensive Care Nurse. I just manage my patients’ drips to keep to their vital signs in a stable range. I just make sure their medications are safely administered. I just make sure the physician is informed of any small but meaningful change in their condition so we can work together to prevent catastrophes. And I just make sure that the patient and family aren’t terrified by all of the beeping alarms and alarming equipment. Kateri Allard, RN

I am just an Emergency Department nurse who recognizes that you are short of breath, listens to your breath sounds with my stethoscope, checks your oxygen blood saturation, and with my expertise and knowledge on how to treat respiratory distress, immediately initiates appropriate, life-saving treatments. But, hey, I’m just a nurse. From Kathleen Burke, RN

I am just a pediatric nurse practitioner. I immunize your child against life threatening diseases. From Suzanne Malloy, RN

I’m just a Nurse I make sure my patients do not die alone. From Aimee LeVasseur Desmarais, RN

Just a Nurse

it was JUST a nurse that held my hand when I got sutures for the first time

it was JUST a nurse that gave me a lollipop when those sutures were removed

it was JUST a nurse that explained in layman’s terms what my injury was

it was JUST a nurse that took away the butterflies before surgery

it was JUST a nurse that held my Mom when she was told Dad’s cancer was terminal

it was JUST a nurse that brought coffee and comfort during those long visits to the hospital

it was JUST a nurse that gave us smiles and understanding

it was JUST a nurse that gave Dad the dignity her deserved while he was dying

it was JUST a nurse that said “I’m sorry for your loss.”

it was JUST a nurse that said it was ok to cry when Dad passed

it is JUST a nurse that wears a uniform

and like most anyone in uniform, they are JUST heroes

From Liam Downey, RN

I’m just a nurse. I just help patients and families in their last hours of life and I just am there to welcome new babies into the world, and I just take care of everyone in between of every culture, race, socioeconomic status with love and acceptance. I am just a nurse. From Deborah Kloos, RN

Well, I’m a pediatric nurse. I just hold a crying parent in my arms after the doctor informs them that their child has a brain tumor…From Charmain Berrian,RN

I’m just a nurse, I’m the one who will make sure your surgery team knows everything about your history before you enter the OR suite. From Susan Bartlett, RN

I am a nurse…I care about people…I take care of people…it is not a job it is my life…24-7. From Donna DiRusso

I’m just a nurse. I held my patient’s hand as she cried wondering how she would ever heal her debilitating wound. From Toni DiMar, RN

I’m just a nurse, I fixed a bowl of mixed up medication to be in a med organizer so my patient would take her prober meds and not die of an overdose. From Toni Di Mar, RN

As professional nurses we do “listen to the heartbeat,” not only of individual patients, but of entire communities. Nurses look for, find & care for the forgotten people. We advocate for homeless families and campaign for social justice. We practice compassion with persons affected by addictions. Nurses tend to the needs of people experiencing mental health challenges. We step up to the podiums at town halls and at our State Capitals. We are indeed front-line healthcare providers. Every Nurse a Leader! #rockthestethoscope From Barb Enos, RN, MN

I’m just a nurse, I teach patients about their disease process, how their medications work alone & in combination with each other, review symptoms to monitor, and listen to their fears as they progress on their health journey while taking care of four other individuals. From A. B. Fay,RN

I’m just a nurse, when I nurture new interns and new nurse graduates, socialize them to the complexity of healthcare, and care for a full patient assignment. From A. B. Fay, RN.

I’m just a nurse. I translate medical jargon into simple understandable terms that people can understand.

I am just a nurse. I breathe life into people who have died.

I reduce the suffering of people who are dying making their last days comfortable.

I help families to share a common goal making their experience of a dying parent/child bearable.

From Patricia McNair, RN

I’m Just a nurse…I informed the ED attending that the patients cardiac monitor pattern had ST elevation and was a STEMI. I’m just a nurse….I questioned the dose of a resident’s order for a beta blocker that was more than double what should be given. From Elissa Aldred,RN

Hello Nurses, I’m a nursing student at the moment and hopefully will graduate at the end of 2016. I worked in the military for 6 years as a hospital corpsman stationed with the Marine Corps. They would often refer to us as “doc” when they wanted something and “nurse” when they wanted to pick on us. Although I’m ashamed to admit it, I was really bothered to be called nurse. As I am progressing through school I’m realizing how much I didn’t know about the nursing field and how much is involved with nursing. I have met many nurses that are often asked by doctors for recommendations regarding their patients. Its amazing to see how much time and effort is put into taking care of just one patient and many of you have multiple. I feel nursing field is definitely taken advantage of and misunderstood. I hope you all will accept my apology for being one of the ignorant people and thinking that a nurse was not something to be proud of and respected. Hopefully when I next read a blog it will say something more along the lines of “You must be a Nurse” instead “I am just a Nurse”.
Thank you!